An Apostrophe, Good Sir

[cbrunny]

Why is it that American's think that the possessive of "it" is "its" and not the obviously correct "it's"

You wouldn't say "The Dogs bone"

You would say "The Dog's bone"


You shouldn't say "The bird flaps its wings"

You should say "The bird flaps it's wings"

Pronouns take the place of nouns and are therefore subject to the same rules as actual nouns. Stop breaking English America.

 

[Jaepheth]

Its about time we had a grammar troll thread.
:sneaky:

 

[waffleironhead]

Language is used to convey a meaning. With or without the apostrophe, the meaning is still clear.
Do americans own think in your sentence?

 

[CraKaJaX]

All I read was:

No more slow loading top ad!!!!!! <- It's been fixed! No more screen jumping!

 

[cbrunny]

All I read was:

No more slow loading top ad!!!!!! <- It's been fixed! No more screen jumping!

Well, to be fair, it is the best part of my OP.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Pronouns take the place of nouns and are therefore subject to the same rules as actual nouns. Stop breaking English America.

I see no problem with hi's point.

 

[cbrunny]

I see no problem with hi's point.

"his" is already possessive - the s is not added to the word, the word just ends in s.

but that did make me chuckle.

 

[Perknose]

Why is it that American's think that the possessive of "it" is "its" and not the obviously correct "it's"

You wouldn't say "The Dogs bone"

You would say "The Dog's bone"


You shouldn't say "The bird flaps its wings"

You should say "The bird flaps it's wings"

Pronouns take the place of nouns and are therefore subject to the same rules as actual nouns. Stop breaking English America.

Lets see if you can figure out why this one distinction pertains in the English language the entire world over, not just America.

Here's your hint: It's not rocket science.

 

[HN]

i'ts nice to see southern alaskans get involved

 

[cbrunny]

Yeah, but contractions exist in all regular nouns too.

Carl's going to the store.

He's going to the store.

It's going to the store.


I had been taught that "it's" is correct possessive use of "it" and "it's" is the contracted "it is" or "it has"

 

[Atomic Playboy]

"his" is already possessive - the s is not added to the word, the word just ends in s.

but that did make me chuckle.

"Its" is already possessive too. "It's" is a completely separate word, a contraction of "it" and "is."

 

[Blanky]

It isn't just Americans. It is also Canadians, Brits, and anyone else who knows how to write properly. It doesn't have to make sense. Many grammar rules don't, but if you are possessing its with it's you will look uneducated and unread to people like me who know better.
So tough shit, it is a rule of grammar and that is that.

 

[Blanky]

"Its" is already possessive too. "It's" is a completely separate word, a contraction of "it" and "is."

Or "it has".

 

[Blanky]

Yeah, but contractions exist in all regular nouns too.

Carl's going to the store.

He's going to the store.

It's going to the store.


I had been taught that "it's" is correct possessive use of "it" and "it's" is the contracted "it is" or "it has"

Who taught you this? Certainly no decent English teacher. It isn't optional; it is simpy wrong.

 

[dullard]

I had been taught that "it's" is correct possessive use of "it" and "it's" is the contracted "it is" or "it has"

You were taught incorrectly.

The word "it's" means "it is"
The word "its" means that "it" owns something.

We don't combine the word "is" with most nouns, so most of the time we don't need that distinction. For example, we don't say "CBrunny's tall". Instead we say "CBrunny is tall". But when it comes to the word "it", we do make contractions with that word. So we now have to clarify between "it is" and "it owns". The convention is that "it's" means "it is".

Carl's going to the store.

No, that is just flat out wrong. Your mind must be blurring "Carl is" into one word. The only correct way of writing it is "Carl is going to the store".

 

[cbrunny]

"Its" is already possessive too. "It's" is a completely separate word, a contraction of "it" and "is."

Well.. damn. That's stupid.

 

[Blanky]

Well.. damn. That's stupid.

Properly written it is "Thats stupid.".

 

[dullard]

Properly written it is "Thats stupid.".

Is using two periods correct? I would think that most style guides would not allow .".

 

[Murloc]

in German the genitive for masculine nouns is written by just adding an s at the end, without apostrophe.

Americans who make this mistake are closet kraut eaters I'm telling you.

 

[Blanky]

Is using two periods correct? I would think that most style guides would not allow .".

I have no clue ..

 

[Ichinisan]

I believe that is only to differentiate it from the contraction for "it is."

 

[Ichinisan]

It isn't just Americans. It is also Canadians, Brits, and anyone else who knows how to write properly. It doesn't have to make sense. Many grammar rules don't, but if you are possessing its with it's you will look uneducated and unread to people like me who know better.
So tough shit, it is a rule of grammar and that is that.

thi's

 

[dank69]

That's him's penis.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

grammar ownage of the yea'r

 

[Blanky]

grammar ownage of the yea'r

year'